ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Valley Conference announced its 2025 preseason baseball poll and all-conference team on Monday, as voted on by the league’s 10 head coaches.
 
Only five total points separated the top three teams in the preseason poll. Missouri State was picked as the favorite with five first-place votes and 90 total points. Southern Illinois (86) edged Murray State (84) with four first-place votes while the Racers received one first-place vote.
 
Illinois State (72) checks in at No. 4 in this year’s preseason poll, while Evansville and Indiana State received 49 points apiece. UIC (46) is projected to finish seventh, while Belmont (39), Bradley (39) and Valparaiso (19) round out the poll results.
   

The 2025 preseason all-conference team features six returning all-conference performers from a season ago. Illinois State and Murray State led the way with three student-athletes apiece on the preseason all-Valley team, while Missouri State and Southern Illinois each landed two. Bradley, Evansville and UIC were also represented.
 
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE:
Luke Mistone (1B), Murray State
Judah Morris (1B), Illinois State
Nick Rodriguez (2B), Missouri State
Kyle Gibson (3B), Illinois State
Jaxon Holder (SS), Southern Illinois
Will Vierling (C), Murray State
Caden Bogenpohl (OF), Missouri State
Daniel Pacella (OF), Illinois State
Bobby Atkinson (OF), Bradley
Kenton Deverman (SP), Evansville
Alec Nigut (SP), Southern Illinois
Reece Lawler (RP), UIC
Dylan Zentko (RP), Murray State
 
The 2025 Conference slate begins on Friday, March 21, with all 10 teams in action.
 
UPCOMING SERIES SCHEDULE:
Illinois State at Belmont
Evansville at Murray State
Valparaiso at Indiana State
UIC at Southern Illinois
Bradley at Missouri State